Category: Principles of the Satsanga

While this blog has not been updated in a few months, many things have been happening behind the scenes. The first two books of a trilogy have now been released by Adams Media, now an imprint of Simon & Schuster. These are A Mindful Morning and A Mindful Evening, both of which have pages on this site. The third book in the series is called A Mindful Day and will be released probably in the fall of this year. So I am now meditating and writing on the third book every day, with the first half of the book due to the publisher on January 17th. Taken together, these books will be a good introduction to the philosophy and practice that I have been developing over the past few years.

If you have read one of the introductory books and would like to take the practice a little further, I recommend that you study the Nine Gates lessons. Some of these are available on this site, and some I have not yet uploaded. The first nine of twenty-seven lessons are now completed, taking the sadhak through the first three ranks of the Satsangha in what comprises the outermost circle of three concentric circles. If any of you would like more information about these lessons, please feel free to contact me. I envision the first set of devotees to complete the lessons to become a sort of council that will guide the teaching and community going forward.

In other news, you may have noticed that I have written a few political pieces, which you may find confusing due to the spiritual and esoteric nature of my other writings. I believe that meditative practice, properly conceived, will sometimes entail taking stances on behalf of justice in the political realm. For that reason, I have found it necessary to speak on behalf of the rights of minorities and women and against the rising tide of nationalism and xenophobia on both sides of the Atlantic. People of conscience cannot simply remain silent in this turbulent time. We have to hold to spiritual practice while also remaining engaged in civic life, even if that means receiving criticism and harassment.

Struggle is greater than resignation. This applies in our sadhana, as we seek to build the divine fire within the heart chakra. It also applies to public life, as we try to make a more just world for all beings. The inner practice and the outer practice are united in the goal of bringing about the Satya Yuga, or Age of Truth, that will dawn after this present moral decline has exhausted itself. As spiritual practitioners, we do not sit idly by, twiddling our thumbs, waiting for the New Age. No, we wield the sword of Kalki, using our talents and abilities to bend the universe towards justice (paraphrasing Dr. King). We work not only through our meditations but also through our actions to make the truth dawn.

So do not be discouraged in this dark time! Go ahead with your sadhana. Take care of your well-being. Live a good life and care about others. Say something when you see injustice. As we band together in community, our good actions are strengthened and multiplied many times over. If any of you readers want to take a greater role in the Satsangha, please contact me. We have much work to do in order to make this society a force for good in the world. I see the very high readership from the site stats, but I don’t always know who you are. Please feel free to drop a line. I can be reached on twitter @DavidDillardWri or via email at writepage [at] gmail [dot] com. And if you can’t take an active role, please donate via the paypal link on the main page. I have so far maintained this site with my own funds, but I want it to one day be self-sustaining.

Peace and blessings to all of you in the new year! I hope that the information on this site will lead you to greater peace and prosperity in the year ahead. Aum Gam Ganapataye Namah! Jai Maa! Jai Swamiji!